BWW Reviews: ABT's 75th ANNIVERSARY GALA Served up a Retrospective Feast of Excerpts from the Company's Incomparable Repertoire

ABT's 75th Anniversary Gala, a balletomane's dream of a performance on May 18th 2015 at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center, treated the nearly sold-out audience to a joyous celebration in dance and archival images of the American Ballet Theatre's seven-and-a-half decade reign as "America's National Ballet Company". That designation became official with an act of Congress on April 27th 2006, but the troupe founded by Richard Pleasant with Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith as Co-Directors in 1940 had embraced the ethos of this country right from the start.

"Billy the Kid", the opening excerpt, offered a testimony to that mission. Choreographed by Eugene Loring to the music of Aaron Copeland and with a libretto by Lincoln Kirsten, the ballet had its ABT premiere at the Civic Opera House in Chicago on December 8th 1940 with Loring in the title role and Alicia Alonso as the Mother/Sweetheart. A paean to the pioneer West, the work largely eschews classical ballet steps in favor of stylized versions of pedestrian movements such as a cowboy's gait.

The salute to ABT's heritage continued with three sailors cavorting on shore leave in a section of Jerome Robbins' first ballet, "Fancy Free", which premiered on April 18th 1944 at the Met Opera House and marked the emergence of a then-unknown composer, Leonard Bernstein, as well as the first of Oliver Smith's magnificent set designs for ABT. Notably, the ballet inspired the musical "On the Town" that is currently enjoying a critically-acclaimed revival on Broadway at the Lyric Theater.

Following "Fancy Free", along with speeches by such dance world luminaries as Ruth Ann Koesun and Susan Jaffe as well as ABT's Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, the evening proceeded with the rest of the 24 excerpts showcasing an astonishing range of choreographers. The list included Agnes de Mille, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor, Alexei Ratmansky, Kenneth MacMillan, Natalia Makarova, Jirí Kylián, and George Balanchine, among others. Highlights were "The Kingdom of the Shades" from Makarova's "La Bayadère" and the final scene from Kevin McKenzie's "Swan Lake", proving once again that ABT's corps de ballet is unrivalled except perhaps for the Maryiinsky's.

Another great moment was the scene from Harold Lander's "Etudes" to music by Knundage Riisager after Czerny. A group of six ballerinas and Joseph Gorak executed flawless fouettés in unison. Next, ballerinas demonstrated slow motion chainé turns on the diagonal. The last of these ladies, Gillian Murphy, elicited delighted gasps from the crowd as she sped up until she almost became a blur.

The roster of dancers was stellar for the entire event. Principals, guest artists, and rising soloists delivered superb performances one after another. Not only that, but the future looks bright as evidenced by the well-trained and impeccably rehearsed young dancers from ABT II and ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in an Act II excerpt from "Giselle".

The Grand Finale consisted of choreographed bows to Tchaikovsky's March from Act III of "Sleeping Beauty", during which the cast was joined on stage by ABT alumni and the evening's three conductors. Rapturous applause nearly drowned out the music while festive glitter rained down.

Much of the credit for the success of this tribute goes to Kevin McKenzie, who wisely chose not to create a program of warhorse gala staples complete with whoop-inducing tricks. Rather, he put together a respectful and edifying journey that faithfully brought to life each era in the evolution the company he danced for and has now led for almost 23 years. His endearingly boyish enthusiasm and awe when he took his turn at the microphone were a testament to how much he cherishes the work he has been trusted to do. A mention also goes to Byam Stevens for producing the video sequences such as a welcome by Ambassador Caroline Kennedy that wove seamlessly into the fabric of the production.

The performance was a one-night-only event but you can still visit American Ballet Theatre's 75th Anniversary site (http://www.abt.org/75/) for a decade-by-decade chronicle complete with photos. Also, the PBS American Masters documentary "American Ballet Theatre: A History" that aired on May 15th 2015 is online here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/american-ballet-theatre/full-film/3911/ The DVD will be available on July 14th 2015 from PBS Distribution. Don't miss this chance to own a piece of American dance lore that you'll be able to savor time and again!

Photo by Gene Schiavone

To post a comment, you must register and login.